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W. 0. PELHAM.

TENSION DEVICE FOR HITCHING STRAPS.

APPLICATION flLED JAN. 6| I913.

Patented Mg. 15, 1916.

PATNT W'ALTER 0. PELHAIVI, OF MONETT, MISSOURI.

TENSION DEVICE FOR HITCHING-STRAPS.

Application filed January 6, 1913.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, WALTER O. PELHAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Monett, in the county of Barry and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tension Devices for Hitching-Straps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to tension devices for hitching straps, and has for its object to provide certain improvements in the construction of the same, as will be hereinafter more definitely pointed out and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved device, showing the same in use in connection with a horse. Fig. 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal sectional view of my improved device.

Similar numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in the two views. I

The device embodying my invention may be attached with the head stall 1 of the halter or bridle at one end, and the tie strap 2 connected at the other, as indicated in Fig. 1. Said device, as shown in Fig. 2, comprises a casing 3, which may be constructed of metal tubing, cut the proper length, and flanged at one end at 4, said casing having fixed in its other open end a head 5 to which are attached the ends of guide rods 6, the same being connected to form a yoke or U member, said rods extending at their yoked ends through apertures in a head stop 7, which latter normally abuts against the flanged portion 4 of the casing 3. Fixed in a central bore 8 in said head stop 7 is a rod 9, the same extending freely through the head 5 at the opposite end of the device, and terminating in an eye 10 to which the halter 2 is to be attached. Disposed in the casing 3, and contacting at its ends against the head stop 7 and the stop 5 is a coiled spring, the same surrounding the U member 6, and serving normally to retain the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2.

The operation is as follows: The device Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 740,373.

embodying my invention may be connected in the tie strap or rope at the free end of'the tie strap, or at any point in the length of the tie strap, as preferred, and when in use, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is inert under normal conditions. When the horse erks its head, however, from any cause, bringing any stress upon the tie strap, the stress is yieldingly imparted thereto, the spring acting to absorb the excess stress to prevent a sudden jerk on the tie strap, the effect being to permit the lengthening of the connection between the horses head and the post (or other fixed point) to which the strap is tied, sufficiently to prevent injury to the tie strap and at the same time to afford a strong and yielding pull upon the horses head to bring it back to normal; that is to say, the efiect is substantially the same as when the tie strap is held in the hand. A sufficient yielding is afforded to overcome the stress of the jerk or pull of the animal and the continued pull by the operator results in bringing the horses head back to normal.

The effect upon the horse appears to be soothing, and to actually assist in overcoming nervousness or fright, as undoubtedly the injury and consequent pain or shock occasioned by the jerking of the head of the horse, when tied, has frequently served to augment their fright or nervousness.

Of course, it is quite immaterial which end of the device may be attached toward the post, and which toward or to the head stall. The operation is the same in either case. ll have shown but a simple and preferred con struction embodying my invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

In a device of the class described, a casing, a spiral spring contained therein, a rod extending into said casing and at one end passing freely through one end of said casing, a head stop rigidly secured on the other end of said rod and adapted to receive one end of said spring thereagainst, guide rods secured within said casing and extending Patented Aug. as, rare.

through apertures in said head stop propscribed my name in the presence of two erly to space the spring and guide said head subscribing Witnesses. stop during its movement, and a stop at the head stop end of said spring and fixed to WALTER PELHAM' 5 said casing for engaging said head stop to Witnesses:

limit the expansion of said spring. CHARLES W. HILLS, J12,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- Ln ROY D. KILEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

